THE Angling Trust are calling on all anglers who have fished National Championships – past and present – to add their views to a major survey which could shape the future structure of these historic annual match fishing events.

Following feedback from initial consultations, the Angling Trust’s website now carries a page which puts forward four potential proposals for amending the National Championships format for all interested parties to vote and comment on.

In a nutshell, the big match fishing proposals involve:

Option A

One Day National, weekend before pre-August Bank Holiday. Teams of Ten. Any method, Individual Championships to end with match winner to take this title. Also Teams of five Float and Feeder Nationals, fished to international rules. Feeder mid-July, Float early October. Float winners to represent England at World Club Championships.

Option B

Separate single-day Rivers, Canals and Commercials team Nationals. Teams of 8 or 10. Followed by FIPS rules World Clubs Champs qualifier in early October. (Qualification criteria for this unstated other than ‘multiple entry possible’)

Option C

Regional events, held May-July, qualifying for annual one-day teams of eight National Premiership. Float National as per Option A proposal. Commercial National retained as at present.

Option D

To leave the entire Nationals system as it currently stands.

Pinnacle of club fishing

Angling Trust senior competitions manager Ben Thompson said: “Nationals should be the pinnacle of club fishing in England. However, we are aware that the number of teams competing has declined over the years.

“We are committed to ensuring the Nationals are fit for purpose, to attract new and lapsed teams while retaining the core of teams that still participate.

“This is an opportunity for anglers to give us their views. It’s a very important part of the process. The opinions of anglers will shape how the Nationals look in years to come,” he added.

The outcome of the survey’s feedback would be introduced in 2017. Closing date for submissions is Sunday, March 13, 2016. To take part in the survey directly, visit the Angling Trust’s website

GOT A MATCH FISHING STORY? Email to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – Angler’s Mail magazine has a must-read Match News, Match Squad, latest tackle and tips, and great features every week.

PIKE fishing legend Fred Buller MBE, credited with inspiring a generation of anglers, sadly passed away last week after losing his battle with cancer.

Fred Buller, who was 89, was best known for his The Domesday Book of Mammoth Pike which was published in 1979. Hardback copies can now sell for over £400.

It was the first book of its kind, looking at all of the big pike that had been caught, or even netted or found dead, historically – including mythical beasts from the previous century as well as more recent authenticated captures!

Fred also caught big pike himself, and was widely rated as one of the leaders of the sport.

The Domesday Books live on

Although best known for his pike books, Fred was a prolific author writing about all sort of coarse and game angling, with his most recent book ‘The Domesday Book of Giant Salmon’, published in 2007, selling out of the special edition copies long before it even came to publication.

Renowned pike angler and fellow pike fishing historian Neville Fickling commented: “The Domesday Book of Mammoth Pike was Fred’s greatest work and there will never be the likes of that again.

“Not only in terms of the content, but also in the inspirational writing style, and I know that myself and many others carried it around with us and wished that we had been around when all of these big pike were – it was such a unique book.

“He was the first great modern-day pike historian and he inspired me to write my Mammoth Pike book, which Fred wrote the forward for,” added the former pike record holder.

Fred was also responsible for starting the Frederick Beasley business in Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire, which sold and manufactured fishing tackle and guns – although that mainly focussed on fly fishing, which was another passion of Fred’s. The shop made its name with hand-built shotguns which change hands for over £100,000 for a pair.

This is just a short version of the story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

LONG-STANDING spessy hunter Phil Smith is the 2015 Angler’s Mail–Korum Specimen Cup winner after an fantastic season with many different species at big weights.

In one of the closest decisions for years, Phil takes the £3,000 cheque from top tackle firm Korum and trophy for a fine run of specimen fish throughout last year.

In order, Darren Clark for his 46 lb 8 oz Wykeham pike, Josh Fisher for his tench, rudd and roach, grayling, roach, and dace ace Mark Everard and river percher Joe Royffe finished runners-up and all will be receiving a cheque for £250 each.

Phil Smith had three weekly wins via Angler’s Mail magazine with a stunning 4 lb 8 oz crucian carp, a 16 lb 12 oz barbel, a PB 5 lb 4 oz perch, plus a 15 lb 4 oz bream that was unlucky not to get a weekly win.

They all came from different venues, and impressed judges behind the Angler’s Mail-Korum Specimen Cup competition which is widely rated as THE big fish competition to enter – and to win.

Best year ever for worthy winner

The retired 71-year-old, from Coventry, Warwickshire, said: “That’s bloody brilliant. I knew I had a good year, probably my best calendar year ever so was in with a chance but to actually win it is amazing.

“I think I’ve been close before but to actually do it is such good news. There were some great contenders and I’m thrilled to get the nod.” added Phil.

Korum media manager Adam Firth said: “We had a collective think, and included the Korum consultants’ opinions and feel that Phil is a very worthy winner.

“His consistent catches from different waters and species is a great achievement,” he added.

This is just a short version of the full story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

GAVIN NEAL set a new venue record on St. John’s Pool with this superb 48 lb 4 oz fish called The Box Common. It's the biggest common caught so far at the Linear Fisheries' water in Oxfordshire.

Grendon Underwood, Buckinghamshire-based Gavin used a Blakes Baits strawberry boilie over a Spombed 5 Kg area at 80 yards.

St. Johns, an 18 acre former gravel pit, is one of the most famous day ticket waters in the country. And it’s one of the very best if you like big fish.

A majority of its carp are in excess of 20 lb with at least 40  in excess of 30lb. Many of these bigger fish have been caught at over 36 lb and at the right time of the year at least seven of them have been recorded in excess of 40 lb.

Linear say: “St. Johns, along with Manor Farm Lake for their sizes, could possibly be amongst the most prolific twenties and thirties day ticket waters in the country and with the carp in both lakes continuing to grow, Linear expect the waters to produce even bigger fish in the future.

“Linear is continuing a stocking policy on St. John’s that has seen 300 good size carp introduced over the last three years – the continuing plan is to introduce at least another 20 selected fish from their stock waters this year. ”

Catfish also feature at St. Johns, pike to over 20 lb have been caught recently, tench run to over 12 lb and bream of over 15 lb have been recorded.

Linear Fisheries’ day only fishing – (applying when gates are open: 8am-9pm March-Sept and 8am-6pm Oct-Feb) apply to all day tickets waters except Hunts Corner Lake and Pond. They are: 1 rod  £7; 2 rods £15; 3 rods £18. 24-hour tickets are 1 rod £9 (from April 1st 2016 £10; 2 rods £22 (from April 1st 2016 £22.50); 3 rods £28 (from April 1st 2016 £28.50).

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

TOP river piker Nathan Edgell nabbed this big pike in a ‘one million to one’ moment – as he didn’t even have hooks in it!

The greedy and stubborn 21 lb predator had grabbed a jack pike but Nathan never thought it would hang on long enough for him to ‘chin’ the pair in one go.

The taxi driver, from Dorchester, Dorset, who has notched three river 30s, explained: “You sometimes think you’ve seen it all – and then something else happens.

“I thought the jack was just ‘a blank saver’ when suddenly from nowhere another pike ten times as big grabbed it across the back, violently breaking the surface and causing my rod to slam over before powering off with it out towards the river.

Brown trouser moment

“To see such a violent take 3 ft in front of me nearly caused me to have a coronary and, dare I say, a ‘brown trouser’ moment.

“I locked it up expecting the resistance would force the bigger pike to let go but to my amazement she didn’t and I turned her and she headed back in to within 2 ft from the bank and just sat there like a crocodile holding the poor jack firmly as if to say ‘now what are you going to do – this is mine!’

“I didn’t know what to do as I knew she wasn’t hooked but my landing net was out of reach and I couldn’t risk putting the rod down as even if the bale arm was off she could reach the snags with a blink of my eye.

Specimen was chinned out

“There was only one option and that was to chin her out. Of course that surely would never happen as she would automatically let go of the jack as soon as I got near her – wouldn’t she?

“Steering her as close to the margin as I could I put my hand in the water and slowly and extremely gently slid it up her flank till I reached the gill plate – so far so good. She didn’t even move or show any sign of spooking.

“My confidence grew so I went for it and chinned her with a firm grip and lifted her completely out of the water. All the time I was waiting for her to go ballistic but it didn’t happen, even as I carried her over to my gear,” added Nathan.

The freak catch happened in a slack margin of the river near his home, offering a small dead roach on a single size 4 Kodex treble on a wire trace.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

A BRAND new angling TV series called Pursuit has begun, mixing a wide range of great coarse angling venues with a mix of top anglers.

Pursuit is a brand new six-part series of one hour shows on Sky Sports that sees an angling journey in the UK, Ireland and France pursuing experts’ favourite fish at their best loved venues.

It’s brought to you by the producer of Mr Crabtree, Lester Holcombe and presented by Angler’s Mail magazine columnist John Bailey.

Following on from the success of the Crabtree fishing series over the last couple of years, it was decided by the team to expand the outlook of the shows and for John to fish with angling mates and to fish more challenging venues.

John (pictured above left) said: “The series with the various ‘Peter’ characters was great and we will be doing more of them,  but this series has given me a chance to share some angling adventures with good friends, to have some fun, capture the camaraderie and to share some great fishing experiences with the viewers.”

Lester added: “We always try and make the angling programmes accessible to not just anglers, but also look to appeal to the non angler too. We feel that it is important to show angling positively to a wider public that doesn’t always look favourably on or really understands the sport.”

Fantastic venues and different styles

The Pursuit series sees the team fishing at some fantastic venues such as Broadlands, the Test and the Wensum in the UK, the great loughs of Ireland and some superb venues in France such as Lac du Peupliers, Planchette, Le Quis and Puyruvaud

John continued: “We try to make these shows with a view to them being entertaining to experienced and new anglers alike, and hopefully attract some new converts along the way.

“We selected venues at home and abroad to reflect the different venues available and across a variety of species, I concentrated on my preferred style of fishing and the crew and guests pursuing their favourite methods and species.”

The team plan to start filming the next series this spring and there will be an opportunity for Angler’s Mail readers to appear in that series and fish with John and the team – out for more info in the magazine if you fancy becoming an angling TV star.

There are a few more tips and ideas in these shows without them becoming all about the rigs and more on how we overcame certain angling challenges.

The first episode of Pursuit transmits on Sky Sports 3 at 5.50pm on Monday, March 7, repeated each following Saturday at 8.30 with further repeats yet to be scheduled.

For revealing information on the carp fishing side of Pursuit, be sure to get Angler’s Mail magazine (on sale from Tuesday, March 8).

JERRY BROWN couldn’t have wished for a better campaign on the River Lea as he followed up a stretch record 16 lb 2 oz barbel with this personal best 8 lb 4 oz chub.

The huge chub came from the members-only stretch Kings Weir and wins Jerry a weekly award of £100 of great Korum tackle in our Korum Specimen Cup.

Woodham Ferrers, Essex-based Jerry, 60, explained: “I had only been able to fish it one other time since before Christmas due to man flu and the terrible weather.

“It is easily a PB – my previous best was 7 lb 2 oz again caught from Kings Weir this season.

‘It has been a fantastic season as it comes after my 16 lb 2 oz barbel last autumn.

“The pictures don’t do this magnificent fish justice. The fish was really broad across the shoulders but you can’t really see this from the pictures.

“It was caught on quivertipped bread flake on a size 8 hook to 8 lb line with a four SSG link leger with liquidised bread fed into the swim,” added Jerry.

Also at the venue, fishery manager Andy Tredgett has revealed their first fundraising event to help create barbel pools for breeding was a roaring success.

Andy said: “It was a great weekend for the project, raising £1,260 towards getting barbel stocks back into the river.”

This is just a short version of the full story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

THE new Environment Agency coarse fishing rod licences will boast an image of one of Britain’s favourite river fish, the humble chub.

The new 2016-17 licence became available to purchase from Tuesday, March 1, and is designed by renowned angling and wildlife artist, David Miller.

Following a crucian carp on the coarse licence for 2015/16, the EA have kept anglers guessing, with fun online teasers, over what would be the star fish this time.

Newly crowned Angler’s Mail-Korum Specimen Cup 2015 champion Phil Smith applauded the artwork and species choice, noting: “Big chub are always welcome. They are one of the first big river species that novice anglers catch and are a real iconic species.”

Artist David Miller said: “Designing this year’s rod licence combines two of my passions: fishing and art. The Agency does a fantastic job and I’m proud to be supporting rod licence sales with my artwork.”

Valid from April 1

The 2016-17 licence is staying at £27 for a full adult yearly version and is valid from April 1 to the following March 31.

But there are plans to review the licence system this year and there’s a possibility future licences would become valid for 12 months from the date bought.

The salmon and sea trout licence is a salmon and David’s artwork has previously featured on a range of sustainable fish stamps for the Royal Mail.

Sarah Chare, EA head of fisheries, said: “All the money raised from rod licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries benefiting anglers.

“We want more people to give fish a go and everyone who does will need one of these licences. We’re delighted to see David’s stunning designs which promote the beauty of our natural environment and encourage people to give fishing a go.”

Any adult caught without a licence can expect to be prosecuted and face a substantial fine. In 2014-2015, the EA checked 70,000 rod licences and prosecuted more than 2,000 anglers resulting in more than £500,000 in fines and costs. Buy your licence via the Post Office website.

This is just a short version of the full story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

MARK BILLINGTON caught this huge 15 lb 4 oz zander – after spotting it midwater on a fish finder!

Keen pike angler Mark was on a guided trip with Wye Valley Adventures on the River Severn run by Martyn Cattermole as he wanted a big zed.

The Sedbergh, Cumbria-based food services buyer tempted his new personal best on a float paternostered roach moments after seeing a big shape on the fish finder.

Guide Martyn explained: “As Mark lives so far up north he wanted to catch some zander so booked a weekend.

“We found some shoals of bream and silver fish on a Humminbird Onix 10 side-scanning sonar and seeing predators in the area on the sonar started catching small zander.

“Then we saw a massive shape on the fish finder and at around 1pm Mark had a fast run then a scary fight with the big zander. It took line several times and was head-shaking below the rod tip, creating the risk of a hook-pull.

“However the fish was successfully landed and weighed in at 15 lb 4 oz – a new PB for Mark and a lovely river zander.

“It was 33 inches long with a 21 inch girth so a very well-conditioned fish indeed,” concluded Martyn.
Tackle was a custom-built 10 ft 1.75 lb test curve rod, Daiwa 4050 reel, 30 lb braid, 20 lb trace wire and size 8 and 10 trebles.

Guiding latest: 0777 1114141.

 This is just a short version of the full story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

EXPERT river pike angler Nathan Edgell has banked his fourth flowing water 30 in as many years – in another bizarre catch!

As we exclusively revealed, Nathan chinned out a 21 lb river snapped after it had grabbed a 2 lb jack across the middle.

Now the taxi driver, from Dorchester, Dorset, took his latest 33 lb 2 oz giant pike by fair means – but a 19-pounder swam into his 42 inch at the same time!

Nathan explained: “The circumstances were a little different this time but once again it was an experience which just epitomises why I absolutely love river piking.

“It was my birthday and after working all night I arrived home to some lovely gifts from my wife and children. By 8.30am they had left so I had a choice, sleep or fishing?

“No contest there then, so I loaded up the car and headed off to the river feeling positive as it was my birthday and the river was falling which is the optimum time.”

All-out lure fishing attack

He continued: “Due to being tired I decided to just go with lures.The first hour was unproductive until I reached a large slack area. I cast the lure out with an underarm chuck and just I lifted the lure out I saw a large tail pattern turn and disappear followed by a large double boil in the water which is always an indicator of a good fish.

“So I cast two rod lengths out and within a few cranks of the reel I saw this huge river pike engulf the lure then all hell broke loose and it was almost like being attached to a steam train.

“She made surging runs, tail walks and leaving the river twice but eventually I had her under control and subdued near the bank but as I reached for the net I noticed something that made me look twice. Looking into the river I thought I could see two heads and then one disappeared and I saw another pike cruise underneath the big one very slowly.

“I lowered my net and guided her in, and once enough over I thrust the net upwards as quickly as I could and imagine my surprise and complete disbelief as I looked down to find not one but two large river pike!

“I then tried lifting the net out of the river and I struggled, and was shaking with over 50 lb of pike in the net .”

This is just a short version of the story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

SCOTT LLOYD tempted the first double-figure tench to be reported so far this year with this fine 10 lb 2 oz tinca while on a carp session at Stoneacres on the Linch Hill complex in Oxfordshire.

Manchester-based Scott fished a small baited area with 16mm Sticky Baits Manilla boilies and added two smaller samples.

This is a short version of the story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

THE 2016 Nash DVD was launched to the instant acclaim of anglers in Britain and across Europe. To watch it right now, at your leisure, Angler's Mail is pleased to share it with you online - so click below, and enjoy!

The men behind the epic FOUR-HOUR 2016 Nash DVD said: “With more action, more venues, more countries, more tips, and most importantly more beautiful carp than ever before, Nash 2016 is simply our best yet.

“Presented as a series of short films, discover new bedchairs, the slick Scope Black-Ops range, great value Dwarf and H-Gun, high performance NR Toro rods and more.”

“Full length chapters come from Simon Crow recounting a year to remember on The Key®, Carl and Alex in the thick of the action as usual, Alan Blair fulfilling a dream as he visits the iconic Redmire Pool for floater adventures, and Jordan Dicks making winter fishing look easy.

“And last but not least we present the eagerly awaited feature-length EuroBanx 2. Join Alan Blair and Oli Davies reunited on an epic eight day road trip across Europe crossing seven countries and covering 3000 miles. Strap in and enjoy the ride!”

Angler’s Mail magazine has a special feature with Oli Davies – to help your carp fishing – in the magazine issue on sale Tuesday, March 15. Don’t miss it! And be sure to read our new Carp Crew section every week.

Nash also move into carp fisheries

On-screen carp angling entertainment is not the only big news from the Nash empire this spring, as Angler’s Mail magazine readers will already know. The company boss recently revealed fishery moves.

Copse and Church Lakes in Essex have been painstakingly and personally developed by Kevin Nash over 16 years and now hold probably the highest concentration of 40 and 50 lb carp of any fishery in the UK, topped by a pedigree UK 60-pounder.

Kevin Nash’s lakes in Essex open to the public this spring, as he proves the brand is not just about tackle and bait.

With access previously limited to personal invitation only and friends of Nash Tackle, the venues have been responsible for possibly more personal bests of high profile carpers than any other in the last decade.

“I’ve always considered the lakes as my place to study and research carp growth in fisheries which is one of my passions and I think we’ve made the point down there,” said Kevin who took a record brace of 50s with a 52 lb 2 oz common and a 51 lb 2 oz mirror on Riser Pellet within ten minutes of each on the Copse Lake in 2011. “There are more 50s in The Copse today than there are in most counties.

Portfolio of quality carp waters planned

“What has changed is my recognition that quality carp fisheries are not being developed in significant numbers and a lot of the ones out there are poorly run with no ability to create the right environment for carp or carp anglers – so we have started a Nash Fisheries portfolio,” Kevin explained.

“In terms of desirability The Copse has got to be the next Redmire…”

“The first step is opening a first class fishery at the new site in Royston, Cambridgeshire, and between this and digging and developing a new lake in Essex we have invested over £400,000,” he explained.

“To help continue to procure and develop fisheries The Church and Copse will be a revenue stream towards future acquisitions.”

Fishing on both venues will be on a limited numbers basis, with weekly bookings for five day Monday to Friday sessions run like carp holidays to France. The venues have 24 hour bailiffing, toilet facilities and an on site lodge with a kitchen, freezer and shower. Tackle and anglers will be carried via quad bike and trailer, both when arriving and if wishing to move swims.

Fishing is limited to April, then closing May and June for spawning, both venues opening again July to November. April sessions are being auctioned.

Read Angler’s Mail magazine every week for the best carp and coarse fishing coverage.

TOP specialist angler Mike Davidson ended a quest for a personal best chub with this 7 lb 10 oz monster – after fining his tackle right down.

The 36-year-old from Shepperton, Surrey, got his target fish in just a one-hour session on his local River Thames after dropping down to a 2 lb 6 oz trace.

Mike, who beat his PB by 6 oz, explained: “The fish came first cast after spending ten minutes flicking in bits of bread. I also finished up with two other chub over 5 lb and a 7 lb bream.

“The simple but successful tactics were link legered bread flake on a new 12ft Drennan Acolyte feeder rod in conjunction with a 2 lb 6 oz Supplex fluorocarbon hooklength and a size 6 Specimen hook.

“The rod is just unbelievable, light in the hand and soft enough to fish for roach and dace, but has enormous reserves if you hook something a bit better.

“I also have so much confidence in scaling down to those lighter fluoro hooklengths as I have been using them for over a year now and it’s surprising how much stick you can give them.
“I even had a 9 lb 5 oz barbel from the River Ivel last week on the same hooklength and rod set up.

“The river had cleared right up after ten days of no real rain so I’m sure the finesse of the set-up gave me a little edge. They were not worried about the size of the hook as it was concealed by a rather large lump of flake.

“I’d fished the swim six times over the last month or so with only one chub of 5 lb 13 oz to show for my efforts, but just had a hunch it could produce something much bigger. I’m glad I stuck it out!” he concluded.

This is just a short version of the story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

TIM HUDDLESTONE was reeled in for a wedding when he opened a box to find a lure… engraved with a marriage proposal from his girlfriend!

Women took advantage of this leap year’s February 29 to propose to their boyfriends, as traditionally it has always been the man’s move.

Tim, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, has been with Carwen Jones for nearly five years. And when he opened the gift box he discovered a spoon-type lure in the shape of a heart, engraved with ‘You are my greatest catch – marry me’. He immediately said ‘yes’.

Tim told Angler’s Mail: “It came as a shock and was totally out of the blue, but she’d been waiting for her chance.

“We’ve been living together for three years and I’ve been biding my time to propose to her, but she beat me to it.

He added: “Fishing is a massive thing in my family, particularly salmon fishing, and my grandfather, Jack Huddlestone, was really into it in the 1950s and 60s and was well-known for it, then he passed our family beat of the River Eden onto me.

“Salmon fishing is my main interest, along with trout, but I’ll have a go for anything that puts a bend in the rod and do some barbel fishing as well.

“We’ll probably get married next year as it takes a lot of planning for a wedding, and I’d love the ceremony to be on the banks of the Eden as it means so much to the family.

“Carwen doesn’t fish at all herself, and although I’ve taken her along a couple of times it wasn’t really for her.

“But I have lures all over the house that I’ve caught fish on, and she must have seen some of my salmon spoons and got the idea to have this one made.”

This is just a short version of the full story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

THE latest figure for rod licence dodgers show the courts are really toughening up on standard offences.

Just a few years ago, the average fine with costs was often in the region of £80-£100, but courts seems to be toughening up.

For the latest monthly figures, 86 anglers were found guilty of fishing without a licence for a £38,936.32 total and an average of £452.

And two anglers even had fines of over £1,000 for standard rod licence dodging, where as in the past these fines were often reserved for people giving false names and addresses or giving violent or abusive behaviour to Environment Agency officers.

The biggest fine was a whopping £1,335 for Stewart Jones, 35, from Lyde Green, West Midlands, who was caught at Oxfordshire carp mecca Orchid Lakes.

And Steven Herbertson, 25, from Manchester, who was caught at Lancashire’s Fir Tree Fishery got a £1,003 fine.

Both failed to turn up at court and were fined in their absence.

Luckiest anglers were Robin McDowell, 28, from Sheerness, and Jonathan McDowel, 27, from Cliffe Woods at Brasenose Lake 1, Linear Fisheries who were found guilty of setting up with the intention of fishing but received an absolute discharge and weren’t fined a penny.

The news comes at the same time as new 2016/17 rod licence went on sale, with a chub on the front of the coarse annual licence (pictured above).

This is just a short version of the full story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

PAUL FLOYD had matted barbel of 14 lb 4 oz and 14 lb 3 oz from two different rivers in the last two weeks and then topped the lot with this PB 15 lb 9 oz beauty from the River Trent.

Manchester-based Paul, tackled the Barbel Society-run Sutton-on-Trent fishery with Cult Baits Elysium boilies beneath Fisky’s Fantastic Feeders filled with crumbed boilie and micro pellet

This is just a short version of the full story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

HOW about this for a monster cod – a hulk scaling 70 lb 5 oz for a fan of Angler’s Mail magazine on Facebook.

Will Irving, from West Wales, shared the impressive catch with Angler’s Mail after a boat trip in Soroya, Norway.

Although not a record, it’s a heck of a fish and dwarfs what has ever been caught by any sea angler in the UK.

The British cod record from a boat stands at 58 lb 6 oz by Noel Cook from the North Sea off Whitby in 1992.

And the British shore best remains at 44 lb 8 oz, caught off Wales way back in 1966 by Brandon Jones at Tom’s Point near Barry, Glamorgan.

Both fish still stand proud on the British Record Fish Committee’s lists, which are here on this website.

Brit’s 66 lb 8 oz giant set shore cod record

Will’s boat catch came just a fortnight after another Norwegian giant – the World’s biggest ever shore-caught cod – which slammed the scales to 66 lb 8 oz for another British saltwater specialist angler.

Dorset-based Tom Ascott hauled up his monster in the cold and deep aters of Saltstraumen where an almighty tidal current runs, and the huge cod twice took 200m of line Tom’s reel.

The beast took a piece of herring on a size 10/0 hook to a 150 lb trace in 100m of water, and gave a hard 30-minute fight before finally coming to the boat.

Tom Ascott displays his 66-pounder from the shore.

Tom fished with Guided Fishing Norway who last year notched a world shore-caught ling record for a 59 lb 8 oz fish by British angler Phil Hambrook.

The huge fish measured 4ft 9in long, with a girth of 2 ft 11 in. The International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) does not differentiate between boat and shore caught specimens.

Therefore Tom will claim a line class world cod record and a European shore-caught record.

German’s 103 lb giant holds World cod record

A German angler holds the world record for cod with a hulk of 103 lb in 2013.

That catch smashed record that had been held for 44 years, and came in 90ft of water off the Norwegian coast.

This World record cod scaled 103 lb!

Michael Eisele, from Kiel, Germany, was on a boat trip and the cod was so big two of his friends had to hold him back in fear he would have been dragged overboard by it.

They helped him heave it on board, measuring it at 5ft long. The existing record at the time was 98 lb 12 oz caught off New Hampshire in 1969.

Michael caught the fish in 90ft of water 10 miles off the Norwegian island of Soroya… the same mecca for sea giants where Will Irving visited!

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email pictures and details to anglersmail@timeinc.com and you could appear in top weekly magazine, Angler’s Mail.

TOP match fishing brand Guru have announced a brand-new event, the Guru Match Academy. Angler's Mail reckons it's great news for the youth angling scene, in the same way a Korda Carp Academy has been hugely popular.

The Guru Match Academy will be held for the first time this summer with the aim of identifying and developing the next generation of match angling stars, and is open to all 13-17 year-olds.

Match Academy will take place at Makins Fishery, in Warwickshire, on August 22nd and 23rd with 40 ‘students’, selected via an application process.

Successful applicants will receive a day’s tuition from a top Guru angler, covering the sort of skills and tactics needed to succeed on the modern match scene.

The 40 students will be divided into two groups of 20, with one group attending each day.

Adam Rooney of Guru will be amongst the top anglers helping youngsters catch more fish like this.

Each day culminates in a match and prize giving hosted by Dean Macey, plus one student from each day will be chosen to receive an amazing money-can’t-buy Guru sponsorship deal for a year!

With elite Guru match anglers such as Steve Ringer, Adam Rooney, Pemb Wrighting and Andy Bennett signed up to tutor pupils, Match Academy is an amazing opportunity for young match anglers to improve their skills under the instruction of the best in the business.

Top coach and match angler Andy Bennett has been the main man in the Angler’s Mail Matchman of the Year series and he will be helping at the new academy.

Guru media manager, Ben Hervey-Murray, said: “This really is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for any aspiring young match angler to take their skills and angling knowledge to the next level – the Guru anglers we have signed up as tutors represent the top level of match angling and Makins is the perfect venue for this event.

“All-in-all, it’s going to be a great day for the students, and we hope it’ll help pave the way for more youngsters to develop their match angling career.”

To download an application form and more information, click here

Fryerning Fisheries in Essex is turning into one of the best waters in Britain for a 40 or 50-pounder.

Mark Shildrake tackled Freyning’s  Main Lake for The Boss, and it’s one of at least three 50s in the water.

The 53-year-old insurance broker from Chelmsford legered a boilie for the 51 lb giant.

This is a short version of the story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

CARP veteran Bill Phillips came close to beating his own canal carp record when he landed this beautiful 45 lb 4 oz fully-scaled mirror from the Kennet and Avon.

The retired 67-year-old British Carp Study Group member, from Chippenham, Wiltshire, explained: “I returned from a six-week holiday in Thailand and was keen to get down to the canal and try to catch some late winter fish, so I started to put some bait in three times a week and intended to fish one night a week.

“The first night I did produced a 19 lb common that I was well pleased with as it was my first UK fish of 2016. When I arrived for my second night it was dark, raining and blowing a gale, so I quickly chucked the rods out along with around 50 free offerings.

“The wind and rain kept me awake all night but I had no action until 5.30am when a fidgety bream-like bite got me up, and pulling into it I cussed thinking it was a big old bream as it felt heavy but wasn’t doing much. I then thought it might even be a polythene bag or other debris attached to the line, as can often be the case on this canal.

“As it came close I realised there must be a carp on the end as well as it took a bit of line, then I heaved it up and was shocked to see no debris, just a big flank which I recognised. After that I took it easy as she plodded around for a few minutes until she rolled into the net,” he said.

Giant that has reached 47 lb 2 oz before

Bill is no stranger to canal carp, and his giant as the same fish he had at 47 lb 2 oz back in June 2014. It’s is believed no bigger carp has ever been caught from the British canal.

“Thoughts of her being 50 lb raced through my head, but in no way was I disappointed with the weight and I called Rob Hughes (England carp team manager) down to take some photos as I knew he wanted to see her. Whilst he was on his way I had another take and a 22 lb 8 oz carp,” he added.

Rob was hugely impressed, and told the Mail: “It’s a stunning creature and one that I’m sure almost everyone in the country would love to catch. Seeing it in the flesh was amazing. It truly is a stunner.”

This is just a short version of the story that appeared in Angler’s Mail printed magazine. Get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.